The Department of Justice has created a new unit to counter “criminal misuses of cryptocurrencies,” a move that comes after hackers previously grabbed millions of dollars in bitcoin following an attack that halted the United States’ largest fuel pipeline.

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The new department dubbed the “National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team” or “NCET,” would investigate and punish offenses such as money laundering and the use of virtual currencies such as bitcoin in ransomware attacks. According to Temple University data, almost 400 similar attacks occurred in the United States in 2020 alone, extorting millions of dollars from hospitals and local governments. In such cases, hackers encrypt the victim’s data and demand money to decrypt it.

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The goal with the new unit is to “strengthen our capacity to dismantle the financial entities that enable criminal actors to flourish – and quite frankly to profit – from abusing cryptocurrency platforms,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said on Wednesday.

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The NCET will be influenced by the Department’s Cryptocurrency Enforcement Framework, which was released in October 2020, and will expand on MLARS’ Digital Currency Initiative. Because cryptocurrency-related crimes can take various forms, the NCET will not only investigate its own cases but will also assist existing and prospective cases presented across the Criminal Division and in U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country.

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Members of the NCET team will be recruited from three initial sources: MLARS, CCIPS, and detailees to the Criminal Division from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country. Team members will draw upon the knowledge and experience of their home offices while working collaboratively under the Team Leader to combine their expertise in financial systems, blockchain technology, transaction tracing, and applicable criminal statutes to address illegal cryptocurrency activity in a structured manner. The NCET will also collaborate with other federal agencies, subject matter experts, and law enforcement authorities across the government.